Shipping box



Oct. 6, 1931. c, VAN CLEAF 1,826,104

SHIPPING BOX Filed April 23, 1928 5 Sheets-Sheet l i E E0 0 E i I i z E E g ;(D 6 (5T); 5 i l 2 a 1 I zs O Q 0 5/235 24 25; 0 O Swag- 1 E g@ 0 0 0; a I I i i a a0 0 0 05 g 4% 3E 55 a: I. Z "g figfi WWW ,Qmg QM {74/ Oct. 6, 1931.

J. C. VAN CLEAF SHIPPING BOX Filed Aprii 25, 1928 s Sheets-Sheet 2 Oct. 6, 1931. J, c, VAN CLEAF 1,826,104

SHIPPING BOX j; 26/ 52 9.5. z/cz E0000; Q0060} {0000i EQQ QE @0000; EQQQQE gooooi E0000; $00905 ioooog A000 $000051 26 Patented Oct. 6, I931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE JOHN C. VAN CLEAF, OF MAPLEWOOD, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGN- MENTS, 'IO CONTAINER CORPORATION OF AMERICA, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A COR- IORATION OF DELA'WARE Application filed April 23,

My invention relates generally to shipping boxes, and has to do especially with paperboard or. cardboard, and the like, boxes adapted for shipment of bottled goods such as beverages, food products, etc.

In the shipment of bottled goods, shipping regulations require that the container be strong and durable and of such character that the bottles will not become broken and the container will remain intact when subjected to ordinary transportation handling. It has heretofore been proposedv to use paper or cardboard boxes for this purpose, but objections have been offered from time to time as to the use of the same and, in some instances, they have been rejected as not meeting the rigidly enforced shipping regulations. One prior form to which I refer is that which comprises a rectangularly-shaped body portion with cover flaps, and which is provided with right-angled partition members extending from the top to the bottom of the box and forming a plurality of compartments each to receive a bottle. The inner side, end, bottom Ziand top Walls of such former boxes are generally re-enforced by suitably sized and shaped strips throughout their entire extent to render the same more durable in an attempt to' meet shipping requirements. In

these prior boxes, the bottles are retained withinthe box, during shipment, merely by p the closed top and bottom surfaces, and the bottles are capable of endwisemovement within the box: This feature is objectionable 3b in that, even with the ordinary handling they receive during shipment, the bottles in moving back and forth in their compartments strike the top and bottom walls of the box with such force that, in many instances, the

40 box is broken apart and/or the bottles are 1 broken in addition to presenting other obvious difiiculties. Further, the prior paper or cardboard boxes proposed for this purpose when filled with bottles are easily distorted and injured when thrown about due to the absence of sufficient supports for the box we 11:;

to withstand the weight of the bottles.

One of the objects of my invention is to provide a paper- (corru ated or otherwise), cardboard, and the'like, box for the shipment SHIPPING nox 1928. Serial No. 272,006.

of bottled goods, which is simple in construction, cheap to manufacture, strong and durable, and which eliminates all of the objectionable features of prior boxes of this character.

Another object is to provide for securely anchoring the bottles within the box with their tops spaced from the box walls (and other parts) so that they have no endwise movement which would. permit them to pound against the top and bottom and other parts of the box.

A further object is to provide an insert formed of paper or cardboard material which not only serves to anchor the bottles in place, but which also serves to strengthen and support the walls of the box.

An additional object is to provide an anchor insert which may be made from a single blank and which is adapted to be retained in anchoring position by the box cover, and which reduces considerabl the size of the bottle partition members, f any such members are used. 1

Other objects and advantages will become apparent as this description progresses and by reference to the drawings showing a preferred form of my invention and wherein,

Figure l is a top plan view with certain I of the parts shown cut away and the cover flaps in open position;

Fig. 2 1s a plan view of the anchor insert blank, which in Fig. l is shown in position in the box;

Fig. 3 is aneenlarged longitudinal section view taken substantially 'on the line 33 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view taken substantially on line 44 of Fig. 3;

Fi 5 is a reduced plan view of the box, showing the end wall cover flaps in their boxclosing position with the side wall cover flaps (one shown partly broken away) in their open position;

Fig. 6 is a View. similar to F1g-.- 5 showlng I an additional cover member mounted between the adjacent edges of the end-wall cover 4 fied fbrm of insert blanks.

. with each other to With particular reference to the form shown in the drawings, I may employ a rectangularly shaped box having side walls 10 and end walls 11 formed, preferably, from a single blank of corrugated paper material,

the formed blank having its meeting edges joined together in any desired manner to form a continuously-walled closure. The side walls at their top and bottom edges are provided with flaps 12, 12', and the end walls, likewise, at their top and bottom edges are provided with cover flaps 13, 13. The bottom flaps 12 and 13' are folded upon each other in the manner illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4, and sealed together by any desired adhesive means'to provide the box bottom. The other or top end and side wall flaps12 and 13 provide the cover for the box as is obvious from the drawings.

This box is well adapted for the shipment of bottles which may take the form of the bottles indicated by the numeral 14 (and as shown in dotted lines) in Fig.4; however, it is to be understood that my invention may be used with any other form of bottles. These bottles are packed in the box in separated relation, preferably but not necessarily, within separate compartments, so that one does not contact with the other, and the box walls are of such height that the tops of bottles are spaced from the box cover and other adjacent parts when the cover is closed. More specifically, in the preferred form it provide a plurality of longitudinal and transverse partition strips 15, 15 which are vertically slotted in the ordinary manner so as to interlock form the separate bottle compartments 16. These compartments are of such size as to rather snugly receive the body portion of the bottle. The partition members 15, 15 extend only part way from the bottom of the box toward the top and, preferably, but not necessarily, only to such height that the anchor insert member 17 will seat thereon as shown in Figs. 3 and 4. If desired, these partition members may not ex tend higher than the straight or engaged part of body portion of the bottle (indicated at 14), in which case the bottle necks or shoulders would serve as the sole support for the anchor insert 17. It will also be obvious that, in some instances the partition members may be dispensed with since separate scored sheets or pads (which may surround or otherwise engage these bottles) may serve the purpose equally well. The bottom and side walls of the box may be reinforced by strips 18 and 19 which are, preferably, contmuous pieces of corrugated paper board formed to fit snugly against the inner and side end walls of the box as indicated in Figs. 3 and 4. The side reinforcing strip, if used, need not extend above the partition strips 15, 15.

The anchor insert 17 securely anchors the bottles in thebox when the box cover is closed, and it positively prevents endwise movement of the bottles in the compartments 16. With this arrangement, the packed boxes may be subjected to the roughest of handling with a minimum of danger of breaking the bottles or the box. This anchor insert is formed from a single blank of corrugated paper material which, preferably but not necessarily, takes the form shown in Fig. 2. This particular blank comprises a body portion 20 which may be of such shape and dimensions as to fit snugly within and against the inner surface of the box walls, however, this body portion may be of lesser dimensions so as to fit freely within the box without departing from my invention. This body is provided with a plurality of openings 21 whichare aligned with the bottle compartments 16, and these openings are of sufficient size to permit the upper part of, the bottle necks to pass there- I through so that the insert will seat upon the lower part of such necks or the shoulder at a the upper part of the bottle body. The body 20 is provided with end flaps 22,422, which are foldable about the crease lines 22 to a vertical position (Fig. 4) to provide up wardly projecting end-wall members, they upper edges of which engage the under side of the box end-wall cover flaps 13 when the latter are' in their closed position. The insert body 20 is further provided with side strips 23, 23, which are adapted to be folded along the crease lines 23 and 23, respectively, to form at each side integral sections 24, 25, and 26 adapted to be folded to provide rectangular, box-like shaped side por tions. The free edges of the outermost sections 24 are adapted to seat upon the insert body 20 for a purpose which will become obvious hereinafter.

In the use of my invention, the bottles 14 are. first inserted in the box compartments 16, the'bottom and side wall re-enforcing strips 18 and 19, if used, being already in place. The body portion 20 of the insert is then placed in the box with the necks of the bottles 14 projecting through the respective openings 21. The insert is moved downwardly within the box to a point-where it rests upon the bottles or parts as indicated in Fig. 4. The insert'side strips 23 are then folded about the crease lines 23, 23 over the topsof the outer longitudinal rows of hottles with the outer section 24 resting upon case the insert will be supported wholly by the bottles. After the insert has been adjusted, as just described, the end wall cover flaps 13 are folded over and upon the rectangular sideportions of the same (Fig. 5) and the side wall cover flaps 12 are then folded over upon the other cover flaps. These cover flaps may be held together in their covering position by any desired form of fastening means. The may be sealed by applying an adhesive substance to the engaged surfaces of the cover flaps, or these flaps may be held in place by adhesive tape or the li From the foregoing, it will be obvious that the insert seats against and is retained between the cover and the bottles, so that, in closed position of the cover, the bottles are positively anchored against endwise movement. The anchor insert is of such character as to brace the box against longitudinal, as well as lateral pressures thereb rendering the box as a whole very stif and rigid. The insert end flaps 22,-and the insert side flap sections 26, in addition to aid ing in the positioning of the insert, tend to strengthen the end walls of the box and the entire box generally. The insert eliminates the necessity of extending the partitionmembers 15, 15' and the box wall reinforcing strips 18 and 19 to the top of the box,

at the same time strengthening the box as hereinabove stated.

In Figs. 7, 8 and 9, Ihave shown other forms of inserts embodying my invention. The form of blank shown in Fig. 7 is the same as that shown in Fig. 2, except that the side-flap sections 24 and 25 have been omitted. In this instance, the remaining side sections 26 and the end flaps 22, arefolded upwardly so that their free-edge surfaces engage the under side of the cover when it is closed so as to retain the base 20 of the insert in its desired anchoring position.

The form shown in Fig. 8 is similar to that shown in Figs. 2 and 7 except that the end flaps 22, 22' and the side flap sections 2% and- 25 are omitted. With this form, the

side flap sections 24 serve to space and position the insert body 20. In Fig. 9, the side fiaps'23, 23' of Fig. 2 are omitted in their entirety and the end flaps 22 are employed for spacing and retaining the insert body portion 20 in the proper position when the coveris closed.

If desired, as will be obvious from the drawings, a singleepiece flat sheet of the size and shape of the insert ,body portion 20.xnay

be employed without either side or end spac ing flaps. In that case, the spacing and .retainingrof the insert piece may. be accomplished by the use of separate spacing strips instead of theattached flaps. In such a case,- the spacing strips may be arranged edgewise,

surface of the cover parts when they are closed, so as to securely hold the anchor piece (and the bottles) in their desired packed position.

The free edges of the end-wall cover flaps 13 do not engage each other and in some instances I may further strengthen the box by placing a separate top strip 27 upon the anchor insert between these end flaps as shown in Fig. 6. This strip not only adds cover strength but further braces the box as a whole against laterally and lon itudinally applied impacts, and strains. I desired, box endwall flaps 13 of such length that their free edges meet may be employed.

It will be understood that while I have shown several forms of my invention, various other changes in details and arrangement of parts may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention as defined by the claims which follow.

I claim:

1. In a box for the shipment of bottled goods, the combination of box bottom, side and end walls; flaps hinged to said box end and side walls and foldable to providea cover; means for supporting the bottles within the box in separated relation; and a device for anchoring the bottles to prevent endwise movement thereof comprising a single piece of material formed to provide a base engageable with said bottles and said separating means and having end wall and side wall 2. In a box for the shipment of bottled goods, the combinatoin of box having a cover, means within said box for supporting the bot ties upon the box bottom in separated relation, and means for preventing endwise movement of the bottles when the box is packed comprising a removable member seated upon and individually engaging said bottles and said separating means and engaging. said cover when said cover is closed.

3. In a box of the character described, the combination of box bottom, end and side walls; a box cover; meansfor supporting bottles therein in spaced relation; andmeans for preventing movement of the bottles from their normal packed positions comprising a member having a base adaptedto seat upon the bottles, end flaps hinged to said base and adapted to engage and strengthen said adjacent box end walls and having its free edge engageable with the underside of said box cover, and side extensions hinged to said base and creased to form a plurality of sections, one of said sections of each extension being adapted to engage and strengthen the adjacent box side walls, another of said sections being adapted to engage said box cover, and another of said sections having its free edge seated upon said base.

4. In a box of the character described, the combination of a box, bottom, end and side walls; a box cover; partition means for supporting bottles therein in spaced relation, and means for preventing movement of the bottles from their normal packed positions comprising a paper-board member having a base with a plurality of openings therein corresponding to the number of bottles through which the ends of the bottle necks may be inserted to seat such base upon the bottles, end flaps hinged to said base and adapted to engage and strengthen said adjacent box end walls and having its free edge engageable with the under side of said box cover, and side extensions hinged to said base and creased and folded to form hollow side positioning members between said base and the box cover and having a portion lying along the box side walls and the box cover.

5. An anchor member for a shipping box for the shipment of bottled goods comprising a single paper-board blank cut, creased and folded to provide a base having a plurality of openings therein through which the ends of the necks of the bottles may be passed to cause said base to seat upon the bottles, end flaps foldable to a vertical position and engageable with the box cover and side flaps creased longitudinally at a plurality of points to provide a plurality of sections foldable relative to each other over and upon said base, one of said sections being engageable with the box cover. i

6. An anchor member for a shipping box for the shipment of bottled goods comprising a single paper-board blank cut and creased to provide a base having a plurality of openings therein through which the ends of the necks of the bottles may be passed to cause said base to seat upon the bottles, end flaps foldable to a vertical position and adapted to engage the box cover, and side flaps creased longitudinally to provide three sections foldable relative to each other to form a rectangular projection extending the length of said base, said -proiection being foldable as a whole upon said base with the outer of said sections engaging said base and the intermediate section engageable with the box cover.-

7 An anchor member for a shipping box comprising a paper-board blank formed to provide a base having a plurality of openings therein corresponding to the number of articles to be carried in the box and adapted to receive a portion of such articles to engage the base with the same, end supporting and ositioning flaps integral with said base, an of such size that their free edges are engageable with the box cover, and side flaps creased to form a plurality of sections foldable about said crease lines and upon said base to provide hollow, rectangular side supporting and positioning members extending the length of said base, the sections forming the side walls of said members being of such width as to render the section therebetween engageable with the box cover.

8. A removable paper-board anchor device for shipping boxes adapted to be retained in anchoring position by the box cover comprising a single blank cut and folded to form a base having openings therein corresponding in number and arrangement to the articles to be carried in the box, each said opening being adapted to receive a portion of the respective article to engage said base therewith, end wall flaps hinged to said base, and engageable with the box cover and side flaps hinged to said base and creased longitudinally to provide a plurality of sections foldable into a hollow-block formation adapted to seat against said base and the box cover.

9. In a box for the shipment of bottled goods, the combination of box bottom, side &

and end walls; flaps hinged to said box end and side walls and foldable to provide a cover; means for supporting the bottles within the box in separated relation; and means for anchoring the bottles in the box in spaced relation to its top including a single piece of material adapted to be inserted in the box in engagement with the bottles and said separating means, and wall members carried by Said piece and extending upwardly against the underside of the box cover parts when the latter are in their closed position.

10. In a box for the shipment of bottled goods, the combination of box bottom, side and end walls, flaps hinged to said box end and side walls and foldable to provide a cover; means for supporting the bottles within the box in separated relation; and means for anchoring the bottles in the box in spaced relation to its top including a single piece of material adapted to be inserted in the box in engagement with the bottles and said separating means, and positioning members belli ' an anchor member for preventing movement tles and said separating means and spacer elements between said member and the under side of said cover and engaging said removable member and the cover when said cover is closed.

12. A shipping box for bottled goods having a cover, bottom, side and end Walls, and an anchor member for preventing movement of the bottles from their packed position in the box comprising a base shaped to conform to the relation of said walls and including a plurality of openings for seating the base upon the neck of said bottles, and substantially tubular extensions along the side marginal edges of said base for spacing the same from the cover and engaging the base with the. bottles against the bottom.

131A shipping box having a cover, bottom, side and end walls, and an anchor memher for preventing movement of articles from their packed position in the box comprising a base shaped to conform to the relation of said walls, portions projecting from the side marginal edges of said base each creased to provide three flaps folda-ble relative to each other to form a block' section, the intermediate flap engaging said cover and the other flaps operating as spacer elements, whereby said base engages the articles against the bottom.

14. A shipping box for bottled goods having a cover, bottom, side and end walls, and

of the bottles from their packed position in the box comprising a base shaped to conform to the relation of said walls and including a plurality of openings for seating the base upon the necks of said bottles, portions projecting from the side marginal edges of said baseieach creased to provide three flaps foldable relative to each other to form a block section, the intermediate flap engaging said cover and the other flaps operating as spacer elements whereby said'base engages the necks of said bottles against the bottom.

In testimony whereof. I have subscribed my name. v

' J OHN C. VAN CLEAF. 

